Pakistan, Nov. 13 -- A mother whose son has disappeared does not care about statistics. A father who has knocked on every door in search of his child has little patience for official explanations. Their suffering is genuine, their questions legitimate and their right to know unquestionable. But does the legitimacy of their suffering establish the legitimacy of every allegation made in their name?

There are two Pakistanis in this debate. One demands that the state account for every missing citizen. The other asks why every disappearance is attributed to the state before an investigation has even begun. Why should these positions be mutually exclusive? Can one not sympathise with grieving families while also questioning the motives of thos...